A rush of ratifications last week brought membership in the Paris Agreement on climate change to 100 nations on Friday, the day the accord entered into force.
From Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, 13 nations submitted their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession to the United Nations: Benin, Denmark, Estonia Gabon, Indonesia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Korea, and Vietnam.
The 100 nations represent 69 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, on both counts far above the 55-country/55-percent threshold that was needed for the agreement to enter into force.
Member nations this week will turn their attention toward implementation of the Paris Agreement, which requires each participating state to take steps to counter climate change, at the 22nd session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Marrakesh, Morocco.
The meeting, scheduled from Nov. 7 to 18, will also host the first meeting (CMA1) of parties to the Paris Agreement from Nov. 15 to 18. It is open to all nations that ratified by Oct. 16.
How much work will be accomplished during CMA1 remains to be seen, as the working group tasked with developing draft plans for several Paris Agreement implementation areas has not had time to finish its work due to the accord’s unexpectedly expedited entry into force.